Swansea City yet again lost an away game by the odd goal in a performance that went from the bizarre to incomparable in the second half. The issue is of course despite so many opportunities for the Swans they didn’t put them away followed by incredibly poor decision making. Then of course what more can head coach Vitor Matos do when he sets his side up to win games and his team doesn’t turn up in front of goal ?

Despite a slow start, which was more of a case of finding their feet the Swans started to capitulate. On twenty four minutes Ben Cabango dived towards the ball from a dangerous cross and purposely pushed the ball out for a corner. The problem being it was with his hand. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty it was so obvious. Cabango wasn’t carded for that, referee Josh Smith was probably in shock at the stupidity of the Swansea captain. Oli McBurnie takes the penalties for Hull and he carefully with a weird jump put the ball into the right side of Vigouroux’s net. The Chilean diving the opposite way. The bizarre parts came at the feet of Zān Vipotnik, first he missed what can only be described as the Swans miss of the season after being supplied by Josh Tymon on the left. He only had to tap it in but somehow his touch went the wrong side of the post. Having got in that position with the home goal gaping in front of him he can only say how he missed that open goal. It was followed by another lovely cross which again found Vipotnik, admittedly a harder chance but again his connection and execution was poor. The top goalscorer in the Championship proving the easy chances are the hardest, well if you are a Swansea player.

It’s obvious I suppose to say this happens too much, but really it does, every week home and away. Vipotnik looked like someone who had walked into a room and forgotten what he was there for.

Hull were the best side in this half, their wing play was exceptional and Liam Millar was more than a disruption to the Swans right flank. His work rate was immense and on thirty nine minutes Regan Slater was fed by Hadžiahmetović who slammed home a brilliant shot which Vigouroux could do nothing about. That was 2-0 and the game already seemed lost. There was another opportunity for Hull to score after that to make it three but the ball ricocheted just past Vigouroux’s left hand post with him stranded.

It was more than likely that Vitor Matos was happy to get into the half time dressing room just two down. Josh Key came on for the second half for Ethan Galbraith who again was being wasted at right back, something that has to change for the Swans to be more productive in midfield. He was carrying a knock into this game, we can only hope this doesn’t affect next Saturdays encounter away at Watford (3pm) We saw a completely different Swansea side in the second half that eventually got themselves back into the game. Liam Cullen glanced a header home on fifty nine minutes which was reward for the Swans domination leading up to the goal. Ronald was causing problems and beating his man in tandem with Josh Key and the home side looked ready to surrender.

Unfortunately this Swans side don't go for the kill even when it’s on a plate.

Ronald though still can’t get crosses in the majority of the time but today he was better. Cabango placed a few balls over the defence and the Swans looked ready to win the game. However, bar a stunning thirty odd yard strike from sub Marko Stamenić, which was well saved by Ivor Pandur in the Hull goal and a Melker Widell strike the Swans went into Russell Martin mode. Poor passing and slow play which made the game easy for Hull to defend following Cullen’s goal. In half an hour of play Cameron Burgess, forever uncertain when in possession and Ben Cabango outright refused to take ahold of the game and pass out effectively. The obvious passes to a willing Widell on the Swans on the left were turned back on, and again we saw indecision and a pathetic attempt to win this game. Gustavo Nunes came on and looked busy but the pace and strength required was lacking. Stamenić despite proving that getting the game by the scruff of the neck could work - went into reverse mode. Cullen ran around without making an impact and Josh Key despite his efforts moving forwards looked shocking when on the defensive foot.

On the counter Vigouroux saved the Swans after a wonderful run from Hirakawa, his goal bound shot which he superbly saved was typical Vigouroux. Add to that his immediate reaction to save a third Hull goal and his solid displays in goal continue.

The slow pace and the reluctance from Cabango to ‘lead’ the side forwards by example today for us was one of the key factors the Swans lost this game. When this Swans side needed to go and win this fixture or at least get a point there was little enthusiasm to do so. There was no player who wanted to supply the aggression needed. There was no anger or direct passing forwards and that falls on the captain, nobody else. Matos needs to get Galbraith back into midfield and if Joel Ward and Josh Key aren’t up to it then go and get another right back who is. Admittedly that won’t happen but Galbraith is wasted where he is. We’ve mentioned this in the past few weeks, and we mention it again.

It’s a simple as that, Matos is now being questioned as to his selections, but then again he set this team up today to win the game. They couldn’t, or even more to the point are afraid to do so and that has been the story of the season. Losing by the odd goal, not taking chances and when there’s an opportunity to get a point like today they are too scared to make a decision and change the status quo. No player in a white Swansea shirt should ever be afraid at any point, and no Jack should be afraid to point these inadequacies out.

Again !

⚽️ Tigers: Ivor Pandur, Lewie Coyle (captain), Charlie Hughes, Liam Millar (Yu Hirakawa 56), Oli McBurnie (David Akintola 71), John Egan, Amir Hadziahmetovic (Matty Jacob 71), Joe Gelhardt (John Lundstram 56), Kyle Joseph (Kieran Dowell 87), Akin Famewo, Regan Slater.

Unused Substitutes: Dillion Phillips, Joel Ndala, Matt Crooks, Cathal McCarthy.

⚽️ Swans: Lawrence Vigouroux 8 Ethan Galbraith 6 (Josh Key 46) 5 Ben Cabango (c) 5 Cameron Burgess 5 Josh Tymon 7 Jay Fulton 6 (Malick Yalcouye 80) 5 Goncalo Franco 7 (Melker Widell 65) 6 Liam Cullen 6 Ronald 7 (Gustavo Nunes 65) 5 Eom 5 (Marko Stamenic 65) 7 Zan Vipotnik 5

Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Bobby Wales, Joel Ward, Ollie Cooper.

⚽️ Referee: Josh Smith : Marshalled the game well, seems to be learning on the job, let the game flow and was possibly the best official this season for a Swans match. 7/10.

⚽️ Attendance: 21,912
Away: 212

Photographs Open Source